Herzliya

Elaborations by Tair Kowalsky, Herzliya Accelerator Center (HAC)

3-Sentence Pitch on the local Startup Ecosystem:

Many startups start their venture in Herzliya, and many had graduated from IDC. We have in Herzliya WeWork as a space for entrepreneurs which is full and many startups that have grown (like playtika, Plarium) are located in Herzliya and some of the big corporates like EMC, Microsoft, Apple and many others. Some of the best entrepreneurship programs operate from Herzliya alongside the first municipal accelerator HAC, Microsoft accelerator and most of the VCs in Israel.

Sectoral Focus of the Startup Ecosystem

There is no particular industrial focus in Herzliya. HAC, which is the first municipal accelerator, is looking into Urban Innovation startups. Zell, a program for young students at the IDC, is looking at all verticals. VC and funds are looking for good startups each from her own POV.

Local Financing Landscape/Presence of VCs

Many of the leading VCs have offices in Herzliya (for example Pitango, Glilot, Entree, Marker and much more). The VCs present in Herzliya span all stages – seed funds, round A, round B, or even further growth rounds.

Presence and Industrial Focus of Established Industries

Herzliya is home to a lot of established tech-companies, for example the Microsoft House is located in Herzliya. In addition, Israel’s largest television and film studio, Herzliya Studios, is located in Herzliya.

Presence of Incubators/Accelerators

Microsoft accelerator

HAC

The IDC Entrepreneurship School

IDC Zell program

The Entrepreneurship Club

Shecode

SheWorks

Matrix 8300

Presence of Research Institutes and Universities

The main university is the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya (IDC). IDC Herzliya has 8,000 students currently enrolled for undergraduate and graduate degrees, including 2,000 international students from 86 countries around the world. In 2014 the IDC Herzliya was ranked the most successful academic start-up institution in Israel and outside of the United States, ranking first in Israel and twenty one in the world.